Jewish Life Program

Jewish Life Program is sponsored by Walder Foundation. Supports the long-term sustainability of a safe, connected, and thriving Jewish community in Chicago, focusing on quality education; mental health and human services; security to combat hate and anti-Semitism; and the advancement of men and women as future leaders in the communi…

Jewish Life — Walder Foundation Environmental Sustainability Migration and Immigrant Communities SUPPORTING A SAFE, CONNECTED, AND THRIVING JEWISH COMMUNITY The Jewish Life program area at Walder Foundation aspires to elevate Jewish Chicago and ensure a vibrant community.

The Foundation supports the long-term sustainability of a safe, connected, and thriving community with a focus on quality education; mental health and human services; security to combat hate and anti-Semitism; and the advancement of men and women as future leaders in the community.

Joseph z”l and Elizabeth Walder have deep roots in the Chicago Jewish community and have been longtime advocates for improving educational opportunities, including science education, as well as health for children and adults. The Jewish community in Chicago is well established and growing.

The Foundation supports the long-term sustainability of a safe, connected, and thriving community with a focus on quality education; mental health and human services; security initiatives and efforts to combat hate and antisemitism; and the advancement of men and women as future leaders in the community. Our work in Jewish education has been focused on responding to the growing needs of our burgeoning Orthodox schools.

Over the past few years, the Foundation has invested heavily in supporting the rapid growth of our schools by investing in greater physical infrastructure through capital investments, bolstering teacher recruitment and retention, and supporting the growing and diverse needs of students.

Mental Health and Human Services A vibrant Jewish community cannot be achieved without responsive human services to meet the needs of our diverse Jewish population. A core focus of our work in this area is supporting access to mental health services for Jewish community members. We also contribute capital, capacity building, and program funds to support Chicago’s core Jewish human service organizations.

Combatting Antisemitism and Advancing Security The Jewish Life Pillar at Walder Foundation seeks to address the rise of antisemitism in Chicagoland, and advance security for local Jewish communities.

Our approach to these challenges includes encouraging bridge-building across the Chicago Jewish community and other racial, ethnic, and faith-based groups in Chicago, supporting community-wide security measures, and investing in promising local initiatives to combat antisemitism. Our work in leadership development is centered on strengthening leaders in the Orthodox Jewish community in organizational, spiritual, and volunteer roles.

We seek to strengthen their professional skills, increase diversity among communal leadership, and encourage collaboration between leaders. Care that Connects, All Under One Roof Upward Community is creating seamless, culturally grounded pathways to mental health support for Jewish youth and families in the Chicago region. Gratz College Welcomes Second Walder Cohort of Executive Ph.

D. Students in Jewish Studies Nine exceptional Orthodox Jewish women will engage with the depth and breadth of the Jewish tradition and Jewish wisdom. Building Bridges of Compassion: Celebrating Solu’s Good Deeds Solu’s commitment to empathy, action, and cross‑community connection reflects the best of what local leadership can achieve.

Prepare for Purim: Rabbanit Shani Taragin Hosts New Podcast State-of-the-art campus in Chicago inspires hundreds of students at Lubavitch Girls High School to learn deeply and live with purpose. Walder Foundation Provides Landmark Funding for the Devorah Leah Campus in Chicago State-of-the-art campus in Chicago inspires hundreds of students at Lubavitch Girls High School to learn deeply and live with purpose.

International Halakha Scholars Program Equips Orthodox Women with Skills and Scholarship in Jewish Law Members of IHSP’s first cohort are completing a four-year rigorous program having devoted a minimum of eight hours a week to advanced Torah study.

Applicants must be a registered Section 501(c)(3) organization classified as a Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) public charity, or a project within a fiscal sponsor organization that meets this requirement. We prioritize applicants who service the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Region, and those that fit within our focus areas in Israel.

We do not fund projects or organizations that perpetuate any form of hate, discrimination, or intolerance.

Political action groups, political campaigns, lobbying activities, or 501(c)4 affiliates Projects intended to influence legislation, to influence the outcome of any election for public office, to carry on any voter registration drive, or to undertake any activity for a purpose other than charitable, scientific, educational or other purposes specified in Section 170(c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Please know that as Walder Foundation strategies and grant initiatives continue to evolve, applicants should not have any expectations that awarded grants will be renewed beyond the scope of the grant period. Please keep this in mind when planning for the sustainability of the work. If you are an existing grantee looking to clarify future areas of funding alignment and timing of opportunities, please email your program team member.